Dr Arathi Krishna will address the Press Community today at Vikasa Soudha, Bengaluru:

The Press Release goes as below:

Date: Nov 25, 2016

At the outset, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Congress leadership for reposing their faith in me to appoint me as a Deputy Chairman of the NRI Forum of the Government of Karnataka. I consider my appointment as an indication of the trust which The Hon’ble Chief Minister has reposed in me to steer the NRI Forum towards greater enhancement of the Government of Karnataka’s engagement with NRIs and PIOs in various countries.

Forming NRI Forum Karnataka has been a major initiative of Karnataka State, dedicated to serve the NRIs, NRKs and PIOs to bring them back home in many avenues.

During my tenure, I certainly look forward to working closely with NRIs and PIOs, particularly Kannadigas, to attract them to invest in our State in various development areas. Karnataka has traditionally been as investor-friendly State and this Government has undertaken several new initiatives to make our State even more investment friendly. There are also several areas in the social and educational sector where NRIs and PIOs can enhance their contribution. It will be my endeavour to see how best our State can benefit in all sectors.

I am confident that my earlier experience in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in New Delhi and as Community Development Officer in our Indian Embassy in Washington will help, me to reach out to various segments of our NRI and PIO community, not just in the United States, United Kingdom, the Gulf and South East Asia, but in all parts of the world. My extensive networking with the Indian diaspora will assist me in helping them to focus on Karnataka.

I also look forward to the cooperation of all the departments of the Government of Karnataka towards this common goal. What we need to undertake is a common endeavour and it’s important that we showcase our developmental efforts in all areas in a coherent and positive manner. The NRI Forum will be happy to partner the various departments of the State government in this quest.

About 25 million people of Indian descent live on foreign soil. According to World Bank, remittance by the Indian diaspora was nearly US$ 70 billion in 2015 – the highest in the world. Even as they are dispersed across the world, and play a very positive role in whatever country they have made their home, our diaspora is bound to India by their ties, heritage, values and their “Indian-ness”.

Further, it is equally well known that Kannadigas are lauded for strong work ethics, high degree of skill, strong family values and hard work in the respective countries of their residence. I have been able to reach out to them over the years in all parts of the world, particularly in the United States where I had lived for several years. I had the good fortune to meet most of the Kannadiga leaders of the community from various walks of life and attended many of their annual Conventions.

Government of Karnataka is working to leverage our inherent strengths by providing the right ecosystem for individual and industry to grow and prosper. We are working to provide the right infrastructure and support ecosystem. In the recently published data by DIPP, out of the total investment intentions of Rs 3.11 lakh crore that India received in the in the first 6 months of 2016, Karnataka received the major share of 38.34% amounting to Rs 68,000 Crore & tops the list of maximum investment intentions received. Further, as per the FDI statistics published by DIPP, Karnataka has attracted more than 5.2 billion US dollars in FDI over the last one year, which makes it the 2nd best State in terms of attracting FDI in the country.

My appointment comes at particularly important time when the 14th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is being held in the city of Bengaluru in January next year. I wish to thank the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for giving Karnataka a very big opportunity to bring together all NRIs and PIOs on a common platform in Bengaluru.

The Government of Karnataka stands ready to host the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas between 7th to 9th January 2017 and welcome our NRI and PIO community to our city.

The Government of Karnataka will be closely involved in ensuring the success of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which, I am sure, will be attracting a record participation of NRIs and PIOs all over the world. This will also give the government of Karnataka a great opportunity to showcase our state as well as convey to the world the several progressive measures undertaken by our Government.

Karnataka State has taken several leadership initiatives in bringing-in the NRI Investors into Karnataka. Karnataka Government has been a role model for other states on how to engage with the NRI investors and strengthen our relationship with NRIs. The key success of Karnataka State in attracting the investors is being Innovative in creating investment opportunities and nurturing the investors by giving them what is required for faster & scalable growth. We will continue to be innovative and showcase to the NRI community about the several avenues of investments. Thus PBD 2017 event will give Karnataka yet another avenue for showcasing our State to the world.

Karnataka has much in store to offer to every delegate in the Pravasi Bharathiya Divas 2017, beside meaningful conferences covering vast subjects and creating interest for NRI investor community, we would be showcasing the Art & Culture of Karnataka and arrange special package tours to suit everyone’s time and interest.

The Government of Karnataka is also working on releasing NRI Policy that will cover many aspects of providing innovative services to NRI communities and looking after their welfare. I am confident that this policy will be unveiled very soon and will strengthen and enhance the already close bonds between Karnataka and the diaspora.